Here is a summary of the key points:
• God gave America freedom in exchange for Godliness. As the nation turns from God, freedoms will ebb away and be replaced by external regulation and control.
• Character is the most important factor for elected leaders. Their perspectives and decisions should be grounded in Biblical principles.
• Thomas came to faith in Jesus at age 36 after a long spiritual search. His broad religious exposure shaped his embrace of humanity and other traditions.
• Thomas’ engineering background informs his use of reason and experimentation to solve problems optimally with limited resources.
• As a naturopathic physician, Thomas views life from a holistic, complex perspective that combines life science and hard science. He applies this approach to social issues.
• An entitlement culture has led to high taxes that stifle productivity. A maximum 20% flat tax is optimal for economic prosperity.
• Special interests and corruption have distorted the political process. Government should focus on enabling productivity and solving long-term problems.
• As a counselor, Thomas has seen people overcome addictions, restore relationships and succeed through applying Biblical principles.
• Thomas applies the same problem-solving approach in philosophy and politics: observe fully, consider Christian principles, analyze for the best outcome, communicate and confront, agree on solutions, and revisit regularly until working.
• Counseling troubled people has given Thomas insight into how submitting hearts to Christ’s principles always succeeds.
• Thomas believes the Bible contains perfect patterns for health and social organization. Leaders must submit to God and act within Biblical possibilities for national success and prosperity.
In summary, the key ideas are: godliness is the source of American freedom; character matters most for leaders; Biblical principles provide solutions for individuals, couples, and societies; and national renewal requires leaders grounded in truth and wisdom from above. Thomas advocates applying the holistic, logical approach of naturopathic medicine and counseling to analyze societal issues and formulate optimal solutions.
A Personal Perspective
By Thomas Lee Abshier, ND
God gave America the gift of Freedom in return for our commitment to Godliness. Our freedoms will eventually ebb away when we turn from a personal and loving relationship with God. Without Godly self-regulation, forceful external regulation will fill the gap, and strong men will subject us to their rules – our heritage of freedom will evaporate. The free man’s privilege/right to bear arms, protect himself, and resist the oppression of tyrants will vanish. Without Godly self-regulation, we will lose our right to self-determination and the choice of legislators, judges, and executives. If we reject the God of Heaven, we will lose our right to choose our religion, our right to assemble, our right to redress grievances against the government, our right to a speedy trial, our right to mobilize and form public opinion via the press, and our right to speak our heart on issues of Truth. But if we return to Godliness, He will restore the adult privilege of freedom.
Character is the most important factor in choosing elected officials. Ideas, issues, and programs flow from the well of character and direct decisions, judgments, and leadership. Our elected leaders should form their considerations the perspective and consideration of Biblical principles.
My search for Truth has been difficult but rewarding. I was raised as a devout Baptist child. But I strayed far from the faith as I searched for Truth as an adolescent and young adult. In early middle age, 36, I returned to Jesus, finally understanding why it was necessary that God create the world as He did and why the sacrifice of Jesus was necessary. My perspective, having traveled the paths of many world religions, sects, cults, and traditions, has enabled me to understand the breadth of the human worship experience. As a result of seeing so many good people in many different religions, my embrace of humanity and respect for other traditions is considerable. After my long spiritual pilgrimage, I have come to peace calling Jesus Lord.
Engineering is the basis of my life approach. My training as an Electrical Engineer at UCLA set my foundation as a man of reason and experiment. I demand that reasonable and cost-effective methods solve every problem. I expect that the forces involved will be identified and addressed and the solution will be determined by rational analysis, which includes the human cost. Every system has limitations, and solutions must be optimized with limited resources. The American economy is one such system. There is virtually unlimited demand from every special interest sector in America. An entitlement without productivity mentality has overrun the capacity of the working public to bear the burden.
The fall of the Roman Empire resulted when the leisure class voted for itself “bread and circuses.” The burden of oppressive taxes on the rest of society contributed to the fall of that great Empire. A nation will collapse if the creative sectors are not adequately rewarded for their contributions. The spirit of the individual is broken when too little reward proceeds from the effort of his work. The collapse of the Soviet Union proved that a “redistribution of wealth” mentality resulted in generalized poverty. A Free-Market economy can only succeed if property rights are respected, and the workers retain a sufficient quantity of the fruits of their labor.
In his book America’s Real War, Rabbi Daniel Lapin of Seattle gives much Biblical and historical evidence that a 20% flat tax, which allows a worker to keep 80% of his earnings, is the optimum tax rate to support the function of government and maximize economic prosperity. Special interest groups, pork barrel politics, and corruption have distorted the political process. Federal Legislation should establish a social environment conducive to productivity such as protecting the people, their property, and the environment, and direction of the national effort toward solving long-term problems.
As a Naturopathic Physician, I have learned to view life from a holistic, dynamic, complex, cause-based perspective. The combination of a life-science and hard-science background has equipped me with a somewhat unique perspective. I view the forces of nature operating in complex biochemical minutiae. At the same time, I see the forces of the cell, the tissue, the system, the organism, and the world operating on each level and between levels. The holistic approach arises naturally by engaging in an open-minded study of the facts of the operation of life on many levels. A wide view of life and its possibilities arise when prejudice is relaxed, but the absolutes remain.
I bring this complex life-view analysis to the study of society and solving the problems that keep our nation from prospering. It is my experience that when I submerge myself into the inner parts of a system, I can eventually identify the part of the system which is interfering with its function. I am a problem solver, a thinker, and a negotiator. I move people by reason. Once an idea has been identified as True, it is only a matter of communication, action, and time before it becomes reality.
As a Christian Counselor, I have facilitated and witnessed personal growth and successful living. I have seen fractured relationships restored, addictions conquered, and inner limitations overcome. I have seen defeated and ineffective people learn to govern themselves by Biblical principles and succeed in life. The Biblical principles of healthy relationships and personal habits extend beyond the bounds of the individual, couple, or family counseling session. They are the principles that must govern a nation.
As a philosopher and political scientist, I use the approach and methods I have used as a doctor and counselor. In formulating solutions, I first observe and understand the situation fully. I consider the issue in light of a Christian worldview of life’s principles. I use reason and logic to analyze the best outcome on all levels for all participants. I communicate with and confront the people involved. Together we come to a mutually agreed solution and an action plan to manifest it. We then revisit the situation regularly until the solution is solid and working. I have found these steps to compose a universally applicable strategy for problem-solving.
Counseling people on their deepest struggles and trials has given me a window into the human soul. The answer is always the same; on some level, we must submit our hearts to the principles of Christ. These principles always succeed when implemented. I believe the Bible is the highest metaphorical expression of proper human relations. Within its hologram are all the perfect patterns of health and social organization. As legislators and leaders of the greatest nation on earth, we must bow to that authority, reason together, and use our human knowledge and heavenly insight. We will succeed in our efforts at proper national governance when we submit ourselves to God and limit our actions to Biblically consistent possibilities. When we engage in this process, hope and prosperity will return.